Education honor society welcomes new members

LATROBE, PA ­– The Psi Iota chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), a national education honor society, initiated 27 undergraduate and graduate students on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. The event, held in the Fred Rogers Center, featured guest speaker Mrs. Andrea Redinger, C’01, who was recently named to the SVC 40 Women for 40 Years list.

Students inducted into KDP this year included:

• Kelvin Aguilar-Contreras, freshman early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Annapolis, MD
• Mercedes Joplin Belch, C’22, graduate student in curriculum and instruction, of Butler
• Sydney May Burton, sophomore health and physical education major, of Inwood, WV
• Morgan Angela Constantino, C’22, graduate student in curriculum and instruction, of Butler
• Brenna Driscoll, junior middle grade education – mathematics major, of Export
• Jenna J. Fesz, sophomore early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Lower Burrell
• Chloe Genevieve Fontanazza, junior art education major, of Jeannette
• Daniel Thomas Geis, junior early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Allison Park
• Austin William Hall, junior health and physical education major, of Claysville
• Charlotte P. Jordan, sophomore art education major, of Germantown, MD
• Nicolette Maria Kloes, junior early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Houston
• Margaret L. Loughran, C22, graduate student in curriculum and instruction, of Greensburg
• Nicholas Murphy Matro, sophomore secondary education – history major, of Latrobe
• Kendall E. McConnell, sophomore early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Homestead
• Marisa Metropoulos, C’22, graduate students in curriculum and instruction, of Aliquippa
• Emine Pehlivan, graduate student in instructional design and technology also pursuing a secondary education certification in English, of Jeannette
• Alexandra Kathleen Pilyih, freshman early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Pittsburgh
• Sarah Amydenise Pritts, C’22, graduate student in curriculum and instruction, of Indiana
• Christopher B. Rose, graduate student in counselor education, of Boswell
• Emily Sue Schmucker, junior early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Greensburg
• Kennedy Sheriff, junior secondary education – English major, of Shippensburg
• Noah J. Sperling, C22, graduate student in counselor education, of Gibsonia
• Hailie N. Stamm, junior art education major, of Mt. Holly Springs
• Grace M. Steen, sophomore early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Irwin
• Juliana M. Tambellini, junior early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Gibsonia
• Sarah J. Yeskey, sophomore early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Mount Pleasant
• Rachel Zgurich, sophomore early childhood education – PreK-4 major, of Pittsburgh

After a welcome from Dr. Tracy McNelly, associate professor of education in the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Saint Vincent and KDP counselor, Brandon Feikles, S’22, offered the opening prayer. Samantha Lantz, president of KDP and senior early childhood education – PreK-4 major of Jefferson Hills, introduced Redinger as speaker, and, following Redinger’s remarked and along with Lauren Brennan, KDP vice president and senior early childhood education – PreK-4 major of Saint Leonard, MD, presented the candidates for initiation. The initiation ceremony was performed by Lantz and Brennan as well as Ethan Kammerer, senior early childhood education – PreK-4 major of Greensburg, treasurer; Zoey Baran, junior secondary education – History major, of Northern Cambria, social media coordinator; and Addison Rimmel, junior early childhood education – PreK-4 major of Cranberry Township, secretary. Lantz provided the closing remarks.

Students initiated into Kappa Delta Pi must meet the following requirements: 

Undergraduate Students

• have sophomore level status (at least 24 credits earned by the end of the term prior to the time of initiation)
• they have at least 12 credits of Professional Education courses completed, in progress, or programmed
• have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher
• exemplify worthy educational ideals
• express an intention of continuing in the field of education
• give evidence of leadership abilities

Graduate Students

• completed twelve or more credits of graduate work at St. Vincent College
• have an overall graduate GPA of 3.75
• exemplify worthy educational ideals
• express an intention of continuing in the field of education
• give evidence of leadership abilities 

About Andrea Redinger

An energetic and creative biology instructor whose lesson for the day can be indicated by her earrings, Andrea Redinger (formerly Ferraco), has been working with students at Greensburg Salem for over 20 years as a teacher and as coordinator of gifted education. She graduated with highest honors from SVC in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology before earning a Master of Science in Secondary Science Education from Duquesne University in 2002. She was instrumental in founding the Pennsylvania Science Curriculum Council as a means for science instructors to collaborate and share effective methods of both science instruction and assessment and currently serves as their executive director. Additionally, she served as the program coordinator for the National Science Teaching Association’s Conference in Pittsburgh.>

Andrea is the recipient of multiple awards, including the SVC Alumnus Achievement Award in 2013. She is a current finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest honor bestowed by the US Government for STEM teaching. In her career, she has also earned awards from the Consortium for Public Education, the Pennsylvania Science Teachers’ Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers.

During her time as a student at SVC, Andrea served as her student class president, a captain for the women’s volleyball team, the treasurer of the Life Sciences Club, the vice president of the Rotaract Club, and the chairperson for Sports Friendship Day. She was also highly active in Campus Ministry and the Alpha Lambda Delta and Alpha Chi Honor Societies.

Currently at SVC, Andrea is an active member of the Boyer School Advisory Council and helped to institute Healthcare Explorations Days for high school students, working closely with the Biological Sciences Department to bring 40 gifted students from six Westmoreland County high schools to campus for a day of hands-on laboratory activities. The initiative is expected to continue every spring semester.

Andrea loves animal critters of all types, housing 20 different species in her classroom; she will host the 14^th Annual Critter Cruise this semester where her students teach elementary students about those critters living in her classroom and welcome in others such as horses, cows, llamas and many more! Andrea’s commitment to her community has led to citations from both the Senate and House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Andrea possesses a passion for education and the desire to instill not only knowledge and experience in all those whom she encounters, but also the passion and love for science that she possesses.

Andrea’s enthusiasm has been referred to as “infectious” (pun intended), and she can be found with her husband David and three kids, Everett, Patty and Samuel at the softball or soccer field, the volleyball or basketball court, skiing or watching the new Star Wars films and shows.

 -David Collins, English major, of Oakmont

Andrea Redinger